Ugandan Activists: Kill The Gays Bill Still Contains Death Penalty

LGBT activists in Uganda today stated that the infamous “Kill The Gays” bill still contains the death penalty, contrary to what some media outlets and Ugandan politicians have claimed.

In a press briefing this morning, arranged by the international activist organization All Out, Kasha Jacqueline, Executive Director of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) told reporters, “The only version of the bill that is public today still includes the death penalty provision for ‘aggravated homosexuality,” adding, “We know that the bill still refers to death, contrary to what the media is saying.”

Andre Banks, Co-founder and Executive Director of All Out echoed Kasha Jacqueline’s remarks:

“Until the Ugandan Parliament makes the current bill public, we must assume the bill contains the death penalty for gays.”

Yesterday, the Washington Blade reported that an unnamed source in the U.S. embassy in Uganda confirmed that the “Kill The Gays” bill had not yet been voted out of committee, and that the committee that claimed it had voted on the bill does not have the power to make changes — such as removing the death penalty language — from the legislation.

Ugandan activists and All Out are urging support from the international community.

“Ugandan lawmakers need to know the world is still watching now,” Jacqueline told reporters.

“Ugandan leaders must realize the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill is not in the best interest of Uganda’s future” Banks noted, adding, “More than 200,000 people from Africa and around the world, have joined All Out’s call for Uganda to drop the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill.”

All Out’s petition, which you can view and sign, currently stands with more than 209,000 signatures.